Episode 54: What Does Planned Parenthood Actually Do? (Rebroadcast)

If you live anywhere but under a rock, you know that Planned Parenthood has been the center of controversy in recent months. In this episode, we discuss the history of the organization and its founder Margaret Sanger. Then we dig into Planned Parenthood as it exists today and the controversy surrounding it. The coverage of the controversy in the media is filled with innuendo and half-truths from both sides of the political spectrum. We wanted to know the facts, so we did a little searching. Since we recorded this episode, the courts in Houston did too, and found no evidence that they were profiting from the sale of fetal tissue or organs. But, what role does Planned Parenthood play in healthcare today? Do they provide needed services? What are those services? Is abortion their primary business? Should Medicaid funds cover their services? And finally, is there anything that can be done to curb the number of abortions performed today? (Hint: yes there is, and it has nothing to do with Roe v. Wade.) Resources: Where are Planned Parenthood Clinics Located? Texas Tribune Articles on Planned Parenthood Planned Parenthood Services by the Numbers CDC Abortion Surveillance Report - 2012 New England Journal of Medicine on Planned Parenthood Long Acting Reversible Contraception in Colorado The Choice Project - LARCs in Colorado